Rail-joint brace.



C. M. CROCKER RAIL JOINT BRACE.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG 25. l9l7 1,262,754 I Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- INVENTCR a/m'mma;

WITNESS C- M. CROCKER.

RAIL 101m BRACE. APPLICATION HLED AUG-25y IQIT- 1,262,754. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR WITNESS v C. M. CRUCKER.

RAH. JOINT BRACE;

APPLICATION FILED Aus.25. 1917.

1,2635%, Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

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INVEYNTOR WITNESS ATTO RN EY asagna.

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cLAUDIoUs 1V1. onoo rnn, orsroirann, VIASI-IINGT01\T, A-SSIGI 1'OR crown-FOURTH T0 JOHNAF. POMEROY AND one-FOURTH ro GRANVILLE o. DAVIS, BOTH or KAMIAI-I,

IDAHO.

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUmoUs ,M. Cnocnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joint Braces, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improve ments in rail joints and is particularly directed to truss braces employedfor strengthening the joints.

In carrying out my invention it-is my purpose to provide a truss brace for rail joints which will effectively prevent the sinking of the rails at the joints thereof.

It is also an object of the invention to provide novel means for holding the truss in positive engagement with the rails.

()ther objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the invention is more fully understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of two connected rails, illustrating theapplication of my improvement. v

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

i Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view approximately on the line 8-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 is an inverted plan view of the device. I

Fig. 5 is a perspective view'of the plate desi lied to underlie one of the ties.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the rail reinforcing plates. 2 r

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the truss rods.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation illustrating a modified form of construction.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 10 is a perspective'view of one of the rail engaging members or plates.

Referring now to the drawings in detail,

therails are indicated by the numerals 11,

the same being alined and having abutting ends which are connected, by. the usual nuts and bolts, with angle plates 2-2. The rails are supported upon the usual ties 3, and one of these ties is disposed directly beneath the joint of the rails.

Arranged upon the bottom face of the last referred to tie 8 is a flat metallic plate l, the same having its edges ribbed as at 5, the said ribs being disposed at the opposite truss rods 8.

pass through angularly disposed openings 9 in thebaso flanges of the respectlvc rails 1, v

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I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 16, 1918. 8 Application filed August 25, 1917 Serial No. 188,134,

sides of the tie, and if desired, may engage with the sides of the tie. The plate 4 inward of its rib 5 adjacent its ends isforlned with openings 66 each of said openings being disposed a suitable distance from one of the corners of the tie, and these openings are designed to receive the hook ends 7 of The rods 8 are of a length to the said openings being of a greater diameter than the diameter of the truss rods 8.

To reinforce the rall at the portions thereof, provided with the openings 9, I

provide rail plates 10, each of the said plates having its opposite faces provided with angularly disposed alining bosses 11 and 12 respectively, the periphery of the 7 boss 11 being preferably elliptical to correspond with the shape of the openings 9 in the base flanges of the rails, and also whereby the said plates 10 will be held 1 against lateral or turning movement. The

bosses 11 and 12, as well as the plates 10 are provided with alining openings 13, and it is through these openings that the threadedends of the rods 8 pass.

The boss 12, upon the outer end thereof, is formed with a socket 14, designed to provide a rest orpocket for. one end of convolute springs 15, one of said springs being arranged upon each of the rods 8. Upon the outer ends of the rods-8 are threaded nuts 16, and also arranged upon the said rods, contacted by the said nuts 16 are washer members 17, the said washers contacting with the outer ends of the springs 15. The springs exerting a tension between the washer member 17 and the bosses 12 have a tendency to draw the [rods 8 outwardly through the said bosses and cause the hooked ends 7 thereof to tightly engage with the ribs 5 of the plate 4, and consequently, force the said plate 4t in frictional contact with the under faceof the tie 3. I

From the arrangement as above described,

it will be noted that the tension of the tie 3, directly below the joint of the rails may be brought into proper contact with the under face or base of the said rails. In some instances, it may be found desirable not to form openings in the base of the rails, as in spite of the manner in which the plates 10 and their bosses 11 reinforce the rails, it

may be held that by providing the said rails with the openings 9, the same may attempt to weaken the rails. Therefore, in Figs. 8 to 10, I have illustrated a construction o wherein the truss rods will amply support the rails at the joint without providing the said railswith openings, or in otherwise interfering with the construction thereof. In the said figures, and at any desired distance from the abutting ends of the rails 20-20,

I arrange upon the base or foot of the said in opposite directions'over the said flat sur face 22 and shaped to engage with the outer which pass the truss rods 25, the said truss V surface of the base or foot of the rails. The members 23 are in the nature of lips and are provided with suitable threaded openings throughwhich are passed headed threaded elements 2%, any suitable means being provided for holding the said elements 24: when the same are brought to frictional contact with the rails, and whereby the members 21 are effectively retained upon the said rails. The members 21 are, of course, of a length I considerably greater than the width of the rails-at the base thereof, and the portions thereof, at the opposite sides of the rail seat, are provided with angular openings through rods having their inner ends hooked to pass through the openings in the plate 26 which underlies the centraltie 27, the latter being disposed directly under the rails at the meeting ends thereof. The opposite ends of the truss rods are threaded and have screwed thereon-nuts 28, springs 29 being arranged upon thesaid rods between thesaid nuts and the'plate or block members 21. The rods, it

will be noted, are of a construction similar' to that previously described, as is also the tie plate, and fromthe foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings, the advantages of construction will, it is thought, be apparent without further detailed description, it being understood that the members 21 are slipped over the base of the rails before the said rails are brought into contacting relation.

Having thus described, the invention, what I claim is: r 1. The combination with the meeting ends of rails, angle bars connecting the rails and a tie arranged directly beneath the meeting ends of the rails, of a ribbed plate upon the under face of the said tie,-truss rods re- Vmovably connected to the plate and having threaded ends which pass through openings in the base flanges of the rails, rail plates provided upon their opposite faces with bosses, one of which being received in the respective openings in'the rails, the plates and bosses having aliuing openings through which the truss rods pass, an adjustable element upon the outer end of each of the truss rods, and a spring between the said element and the outer boss of the respective plates.

2. In combination with rails, connecting means for the rails, a tie disposed below the meeting ends of the rails, of a plate arranged beneath the tie and having ribbed edges which contact with the tie, said plate having an opening adjacent each of the corners thereof, the base flanges of the rails having angularly disposed openings which are of an elliptical formation, truss rods having hook ends engaged in the respective openings of the tie plate, rail plates having their opposite faces provided with angularly disposed alining bosses registering with the openings .in their respective plates and through which the ends of the truss rods are adapted to pass, the inner boss being elliptical and being received in theelliptical openings in the ralls, the upper bosses being recessed to provide pockets, an adjustable elemen'tupon the outer end of each of the truss rods, washers, upon'said truss rods, a 7

spring upon each of the truss rods engaging the respective washers, and each of said springs being received in the referred to pocket in the outer boss of each of the rail plates. V

3; The combination with the meeting ends of two rails, angle bars connecting the rails and a tie arranged directly beneath the meeting ends of the rails, of a ribbed plate upon the under face of the said tie, truss rods removably connected to the plate, platesupon the rails, means for securing the said plates to the base of the rails, and means for adjustably connecting the truss rods to the said plates. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLAUDIOUS M. CROCKER.

Gopie'aoi this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by addressing the Gcrnmissloner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G. 

